The Baisha River Oasis stretches over 3,200 li from east to west, and more than 1,700 li from north to south, with a population of millions, and is a renowned large oasis in the Boundless Desert Sea.
The oasis is named after a long river running through it from south to north, originating from the southern region's White Camel Ridge. It flows northward into the Golden Water Lake at the northern end of the oasis. Due to the river's abundance of crystal-clear, jade-like fine white sand, it is called Baisha River.
It's said that over a thousand years ago, the Baisha River Oasis was only half its current size. It was the various cultivation clans that occupied the oasis, who, over more than a thousand years, continuously invested manpower and resources for artificial forestation, expanding the oasis to the size it is today.
As of now, besides the Baituo Ridge Chen Family, a Purple Mansion Clan, there are four Foundation Establishment Clans attached to the Chen Family, and dozens of small clans composed of Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators. Including thousands of loose cultivators who rely on the oasis marketplaces for livelihood, Baisha River Oasis is essentially a self-sufficient mini-cultivation realm.
Due to the presence of cultivator marketplaces and the sitting elder Chen Yaohui, a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, Baisha River Oasis does not prohibit foreign cultivators from entering and exiting.
However, because the oasis also houses millions of mortals, the Chen Family and the attached cultivation families have established reception points in conspicuous locations around the oasis, with clan cultivators permanently stationed there to guide visiting cultivators to the marketplace, preventing them from disturbing the mortals.
If one enters Baisha River Oasis without going through these reception points and is discovered by the Chen Family patrols, they could be fined with spirit stones at best, or considered an intruder and killed at worst.
On this day, a white-clothed youth riding a Shatuo Beast arrived outside a reception point somewhere south of Baisha River Oasis.
Seated on the back of the Shatuo Beast, like most who cross the Desert Sea to reach the oasis, the youth's face was filled with weariness.
It wasn't until he saw the magnificent golden palaces on the distant peaks that his spirits lifted, showing a trace of excitement in his eyes.
The youth was none other than Zhouyang, who had been journeying in the desert for tens of days, and it had been forty-two days since he left Jade Spring Lake Oasis.
Since the day he was attacked by sand bandits, he had been making smooth progress. Beyond having to dispatch two Tier One Desert Demon Beasts along the way, he hadn't encountered any other dangers.
Nonetheless, after forty-two days in the desert and spending divine sense daily to scout paths, his spirit was extremely fatigued, in urgent need of finding a safe place to rest and recover.
The reception points set up by various clans on the outskirts of Baisha River Oasis were undoubtedly a good place to rest.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist. I am Chen Fangping from White Camel Ridge, appointed by my clan to receive cultivators from all directions. May I ask your esteemed name? Do you have any lineage or affiliation?"
Outside the magnificent golden reception hall, the dusty Zhouyang who climbed the peak here, saw the cultivator stationed by the Chen Family.
As he was merely responsible for guiding visiting cultivators to the marketplace, the Chen Family's requirement for those undertaking such tasks wasn't high. The Chen Family cultivator before Zhouyang, Chen Fangping, appeared older than Zhouyang by over a dozen years. He looked fair and chubby with a congenial demeanor, possessing only Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation.
Yet, with White Camel Ridge Chen Family as a strong backing, even facing Zhouyang, who was an Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator, Chen Fangping's demeanor was neither servile nor arrogant, rather calm.
Zhouyang wasn't surprised by this. If it were him, with a Purple Mansion stage family elder as a backing, he too wouldn't bow before a stranger younger than himself, unless the other was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He smiled as he cupped his hands in a greeting, speaking warmly, "So it is Brother Fang Ping of White Camel Ridge. I am Zhouyang of Yuquan Lake Zhou Family, tasked by my family to come to Jinsha Marketplace to manage our 'Jade Spring Pavilion' on behalf of my father Zhou Xuanhao. Here is my identity token."
Upon hearing Zhouyang was from a family allied with the Chen Family, Chen Fangping's expression changed. When he took the identity token Zhouyang handed over and saw the information left by Foundation Establishment cultivator Zhou Minghan, his face lit up with a smile.
"So it is Brother Zhouyang of Yuquan Zhou Family. I am honored! Although my cultivation is low, I have heard of your esteemed father, a Tier Two High-grade Alchemist. To think the younger brother at such a young age can already inherit your father's endeavors! Truly, the tiger father begets no dog son!"
Zhou Xuanhao had long lived in Baisha River Oasis, and the title of a Tier Two High-grade Alchemist was recognized among various families. Thus hearing Zhouyang was Zhou Xuanhao's son, coupled with his young age already reaching Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation, Chen Fangping's demeanor markedly improved.
Handing back Zhouyang's identity token with one hand, he kindly gestured to him: "You've traveled all the way from Yuquan Lake Oasis, it must have been arduous. Not much to say, please come this way, and I'll have someone prepare meals and drinks to welcome you."
"Brother Chen, you are too kind, this younger brother thanks you first."
Zhouyang graciously accepted, secured the token and followed Chen Fangping into the reception hall, while for the Shatuo Beast mount, there were mortal stablemen arranged by the Chen Family to tend and feed it.
Inside the reception hall, Zhouyang was led by maidens into the rear hall's hot spring pool to enjoy a warm bath. When he changed into a clean outfit and returned to the front hall, Chen Fangping already had a meal ready, awaiting him.
Food consisted of demon beast meat, Hundred-Year Yellow Ginseng, Centennial Spirit Ginseng, and other Tier Two spirit elixirs prepared into medicinal cuisines, with 'Golden Pearl Rice' steamed as the main dish. After finishing the hearty meal, Zhouyang and Chen Fangping were already brothers-in-arms. To outsiders, they'd seem long-time friends!
However, even dear brothers tally expenses, right? I, Chen Fangping, regard you as a brother; do you really intend to eat for free?
When Zhouyang finished his meal and received the expense note handed by Chen Fangping, his expression was quite amusing.
He found it a bit strange earlier; the two of them had only just met. Even if Chen Fangping wanted to forge a connection due to his father Zhou Xuanhao, this meal seemed overly extravagant.
At that time, the other party had already started eating, and he was indeed tempted by the sumptuous spread, so he didn't think much of it, living under the impression that the Chen Family was wealthy and didn't mind such a trivial expense.
It was only when he saw the bill presented to him that he realized he had been tricked.
This wasn't Chen Fangping trying to befriend him, it was clearly a ploy to gouge him for a meal!
Thinking back now, Chen Fangping's earlier enthusiasm did seem a bit excessive.
The Zhou Family and the Chen Family are supposedly allies, but in truth, the Zhou Family serves as their lackeys. Even though Chen Fangping's cultivation is low, he's a legitimate Chen Family member, and wouldn't need to lower himself if not for some benefit!
So the real situation was that after hearing that his father was Tier Two High-grade Alchemist Zhou Xuanhao, Chen Fangping had pegged him as a wealthy prey, hence the change in attitude to warmly receive him, aiming to mercilessly rip him off.
After all, with the backing of the Chen Family and being on his own turf, the Chen Family really wouldn't fear him daring to dine and dash.
Understanding all this, Zhouyang's expression gradually calmed. Since the food was already eaten, he couldn't renege on payment. Moreover, it was just a meal; Zhouyang wouldn't be unable to afford one meal.
"Brother Chen, impressive tactics; I admire, I admire!"
With a calm face, he looked at Chen Fangping, who was equally calm, and lightly clasped his hands, handing over the meal fee of over a hundred Spirit Stones.
Upon receiving the Spirit Stones, Chen Fangping's calm expression changed again to one of delight, and smiling at him, he said, "Little brother, you truly are a distinguished Zhou Family member, you are indeed generous. I'm definitely making a friend out of you, if there's anything you need in Baisha River Oasis, just say the word. Though my cultivation isn't high, I can still speak a few words over at my father's place."
"Oh, may I ask who your father is?" Zhouyang's expression turned slightly surprised, looking at Chen Fangping.
This thick-skinned, cunning, round-faced, fat man — could he also be a Second Generation Immortal?
"My father is Chen Ping'an!"
Chen Fangping's face flashed with pride, as he mentioned a name that made Zhouyang's expression change dramatically.
"Chen Ping'an! Could he be the Elder Chen who slew the Tier Three High-grade Demon Beast 'Golden-eating Toad' with one sword?"
Zhouyang couldn't help but shout in surprise, his face full of astonishment.
"Indeed!" Chen Fangping seemed very satisfied with Zhouyang's change in expression, nodding his head proudly.
"So Brother Chen is actually Elder Chen's son, no wonder..." Zhouyang looked at the proud round-faced fat man with a strange expression, thinking no wonder this fellow with mere Fifth-Layer Qi cultivation dared to trick a cultivator like him at Eighth-Layer Qi cultivation.
Besides the Chen Family's backing, he also relied on Chen Ping'an as a patron.
That Chen Ping'an isn't an ordinary person—he's one of the dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Chen Family, with cultivation reaching Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment, and renowned as the top Foundation Establishment figure under the Chen Family Ancestor, most notably, he slew the defensive Tier Three High-grade Demon Beast 'Golden-eating Toad' with a Tier Four Flying Sword, 'White Rainbow Sword.'
With such a father as a giant, as long as Chen Fangping didn't provoke Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, he could easily walk around Baisha River Oasis, certainly not fear a mere junior cultivator from a Foundation Establishment Clan like Zhouyang.
Seeing Zhouyang's change of expression, Chen Fangping knew precisely what his unspoken words meant, but he didn't mind since it was an undeniable fact.
Narrowing his eyes, he walked over to Zhouyang with a genial tone, patting his shoulder, saying: "Well now, still think you're at a loss? Treating older brother to a meal gives you a chance to connect with my father; that's absolutely worthwhile! Given my father's status, even your Zhou Family's Clan Leader would find it difficult to meet him!"
"I..."
Looking at Chen Fangping with an expression as if he'd made a great deal, Zhouyang felt a sense of having messed with a cheeky cat.
He slightly turned his head, avoiding the direct gaze of the round fat face, and cleared his throat, "Ahem, since Brother Chen said as much, let me boldly ask one more question: sleeping and resting here doesn't require Spirit Stones, right?"
Zhouyang had been swindled enough to learn from the experience; now, except for breathing and drinking water, he'd ensure sleeping was free beforehand.
Seeing his reaction, Chen Fangping's words amused him too, prompting hearty laughter: "Haha, little brother is truly interesting. Rest assured, sleeping not only doesn't charge, older brother offers two beauties for free to warm your bed, how's that?"